Easter has always been a big deal in my family- but, while I did enjoy the Egg Hunt as a child, I never found the “Golden Egg”, the special hidden egg that meant you won first place in the contest. I’ve just never been good at rushing around, searching under tables and chairs or behind curtains.

Now that I’m all grown up, though, I can actually make my own Golden Eggs for Easter. Give me a dozen eggs, some chocolate filling, and some food-safe gold powder (from my friendly bakery store), and I’m good to go. Here’s how:

Golden Easter Eggs
(makes a dozen)

1 dozen large eggs
18 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 tsp gold powder
1 tsp vodka, plus drops as needed

First, clear out the eggs: wash each egg in warm water and dry thoroughly. Insert a sterilized needle into the small end of the egg to make a small hole. Do the same with the large end using a skewer to make a 1/4-inch hole. Insert the needle into the large end and break the yolk. Remove the contents of the egg by blowing into the small hole through a straw.

Now, make the chocolate filling: Melt the chocolate using a double boiler over a water bath or in a microwave according to directions on the package.

Pour the melted chocolate filling into a pastry piping bag fitted with a small round tip and fill the prepared egg shell through the large hole. Return the filled eggs to the egg carton.

Place the gold powder in a medium stainless steel bowl and add the vodka. Stir until completely blended. You can adjust the thickness of the mixture by adding tequila a drop at a time until you obtain the desired thickness – the mixture should be thin enough to easily spread. Use an artist brush to paint the egg shells gold. Put the carton of painted eggs into a freezer for 7 – 10 minutes to firm the chocolate and set the paint.